The issue of rape culture has become increasingly prominent on college campuses. Kate Harding conducted a dinner conversation on this topic and addressed multiple facets of the topic such as what constitutes consent. Rape has become far too common in today’s society and the language that surrounds the issue is considered to be rape culture. In media, rape can often be portrayed as a joke or a way for males to assert dominance over females. Somehow in some way, people have started to think that rape is ok. As a woman, I have always been told to never walk home alone, and never wear clothing that is too revealing. The pattern of these statements is that females are often told to avoid making themselves a victim of rape while the pattern should be that people should simply know not to rape.

Harding touched on this subject as well as other things I had not known before. We spoke of the “red zone” which is the first couple weeks of the semester where students, particularly freshmen, are starting to go out to parties for the first time and test their limits with alcohol. During this time period, students are the most vulnerable to rape.

I think it’s incredibly saddening that I have to sometimes worry about rape or be aware of things like the “red zone.” So far the campus has had many great rape prevention programs such as sexual assault awareness week, but a real change can only occur once there is a change in the culture.